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  #1  
Old 08-29-2016, 10:35 PM
Jerry D Jerry D is offline
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Default Strat Decision

I recently started a thread asking for help in choosing a MIM deluxe or standard strat. I've settled on the standard, and need help once again.

Now, my question is, should I get an HSS or an HSH? I want at least one humbucker, but I don't want overkill. I play (now) for self enjoyment and with a couple of friends, just jamming. Gigging days are over. I don't play hard rock, mostly Eagles-type stuff, country, and such.
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  #2  
Old 08-29-2016, 11:47 PM
Steel and wood Steel and wood is offline
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HSS for me. (Not that I have ever contemplated putting a hum-bucker in my Stratocaster).

If you are going to do it then it has to be solely the bridge pickup. Part of the Stratocaster's charm is its singe coils and having two hum-buckers on the guitar turns it into something else other than a Stratocaster is how I feel.

Either way, good luck!
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Old 08-30-2016, 04:13 AM
guitararmy guitararmy is offline
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I like the sound of neck and bridge humbuckers in a strat. The longer scale length compared to a Gibson makes the neck pu less muddy to my ears...
This one has coil taps for the humbuckers:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guita...%20HSH&index=1
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Old 08-30-2016, 08:09 AM
ras1500 ras1500 is offline
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I'm with Steel & Wood, the whole point of a Strat is the single coil pups.
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Old 08-30-2016, 08:24 AM
Dru Edwards Dru Edwards is online now
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I'd go HSS myself. I assembled my own HSH Frankenstrat and afterwards I realized I would have preferred that neck single coil. I guess it depends if you plan to play mostly single coil or humbucking material.
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Old 08-30-2016, 08:32 AM
jdmulli jdmulli is offline
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Default Humbucker in a Strat

In my opinion, a nice strat with a humbucker in the bridge is a very versatile guitar. I gigged one regularly all through college.

Often times I would split the the humbucker and the middle pickup for rhythm work and switch to full humbucker for solos. It worked for me.

All that being said, I would never put a humbucker in the neck of a strat. I love the single coil neck sound.
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Old 08-30-2016, 08:54 AM
redir redir is offline
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Mine is HSH with coil taps so I can 'fake' it. If I had only once choice to put one Humbucker I'd probably put it in the bridge. There is always more power in the neck pickup spot so the single will match it closely for volume and then you will still have that classic position 4 Strat sound with the mid and neck single coils.
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Old 08-30-2016, 01:26 PM
Eric_M Eric_M is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jerry D View Post
I don't play hard rock, mostly Eagles-type stuff, country, and such.
HSS should do fine. If you want to get fancy, you could get a superswitch that splits the humbucker, to approximate that middle-and-bridge Strat pickup setting. Or maybe a push-pull pot so you could switch the humbucker from series to parallel wiring.
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Old 08-30-2016, 01:51 PM
51 Relic 51 Relic is offline
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Just a thought you could go down the Clapton type Wiring option I think Fender do a standard line with this similar boost wiring fitted rather than the signature one
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Old 08-30-2016, 05:45 PM
Steel and wood Steel and wood is offline
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The bridge pickup (Fender Custom Shop 54 single coil) on my Stratocaster is plenty hot enough for soloing. (Yet to be fully convinced that a hum-bucker is a better alternative but each to their own).
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Old 08-30-2016, 05:54 PM
muscmp muscmp is offline
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play both versions at your big box store thru the same amp and make your decision that way. your ears have to make the choice.

play music!
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  #12  
Old 08-30-2016, 07:21 PM
Paleolith54 Paleolith54 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jerry D View Post
I recently started a thread asking for help in choosing a MIM deluxe or standard strat. I've settled on the standard, and need help once again.

Now, my question is, should I get an HSS or an HSH? I want at least one humbucker, but I don't want overkill. I play (now) for self enjoyment and with a couple of friends, just jamming. Gigging days are over. I don't play hard rock, mostly Eagles-type stuff, country, and such.
For what you play, I'd go SSS. And this from a guy who currently plays two-humbucker guitars exclusively, but I've owned both flavors of Strats and I actually prefer SSS for most anything played with a Strat.

Also, honestly, I wouldn't over-think it. You can get great, and very similar, sounds both ways. I'd focus more on how the guitar feels in your hands, how it plays.
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Old 08-30-2016, 07:27 PM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Paleolith54 View Post
For what you play, I'd go SSS...I've owned both flavors of Strats and I actually prefer SSS for most anything played with a Strat...
What he said...
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Old 08-30-2016, 08:10 PM
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stratokatsu stratokatsu is offline
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I used to have an HSS with a little mod. By cutting one wire and splicing in two sides of a mini toggle switch, (small hole to drill in the pickguard), you can split the humbucker and actually have a very full sounding single coil tone on the bridge.
It's kind of the best of both worlds.
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Old 08-30-2016, 08:37 PM
Tone Gopher Tone Gopher is offline
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SSS

The humbucker with coil split won't ever sound the same as a single coil - even if the winds are the same, the magnets are different.
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